With Upgrade of Meridian's Learning Management System, Tucson Looks to Create
Digital Learning Environment
HERNDON, Va., Feb. 15, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Employees for the City of
Tucson, Ariz., have given learning a makeover. In 2005, after a competitive
bidding process, Tucson purchased a learning management system from Meridian
called the Knowledge Centre, which delivers and tracks training via the
internet. The city has used its legacy LMS to train its police officers and
firefighters as well as for safety and supervisory training for all city
staff, and occupation-specific training targeted to a variety of jobs.
The Knowledge Centre for example, managed the process of re-certifying police
and firefighters and scheduling both classroom and online learning. Tucson
officials say they chose to upgrade to Meridian Global LMS - the software
maker's flagship product - because of the software's "contemporary look, ease
of navigation, reporting and collaborative features."
"As a city, we are focused upon continually sharpening and updating our skills
for high quality service delivery to our citizens," said Betsy Conroy, Human
Resources manager for employee development for the City of Tucson. "Meridian
Global, which we have branded as CityLearn, is a significant tool for us to
accomplish this.
"Specifically, the Meridian Global LMS will help us create a more robust
digital learning environment and serve our needs for a learning management
system," added Conroy. "We will be able to set up multi-class series or
curricula with multiple online components for hybrid learning (i.e., in-person
classes and online) including webinars, podcasts, online learning modules with
videos, quizzes, documents and collaborative discussions – all in one place
and easily accessible to the learner."
According to Conroy, the new Meridian Global LMS gives Tucson flexibility to
report grant-funded training, meet state and national standards for emergency
management preparedness, OSHA requirements and a variety of certifications for
the city's water utility, law enforcement and firefighting. Conroy says the
new LMS will also simplify online training for non-permanent employees such as
Parks & Recreation staff who may encounter the tool only once a year. The LMS
can also help the city provide new hires with online training during the
important first few months on the job; this will help employees have more
meaningful discussions during new-hire orientation and on the job.
Another benefit to the upgrade, says Conroy, is the ability to set up domains
(i.e., unique web sites stemming from the LMS) for the Tucson Fire Department
to expand its mandate to all fire districts in southern Arizona. With the
separate domains, the Tucson Fire Department can use the new LMS, purchased
with partial funding provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to
offer online training to other jurisdictions or schedule classroom courses to
ensure each district responds to large-scale emergencies in a coordinated way.
Tucson has also customized the Meridian Global LMS to administer tuition
reimbursement for city staff.
"Our product architecture gives us the flexibility to mold our LMS to whatever
business processes our customers have in place," said Vinay Nilakantan, vice
president, Product Management and Marketing for Meridian.
About Meridian
Meridian Knowledge Solutions, LLC is the #1-rated human-capital management
company for customer loyalty, with a documented customer retention rate of 98
percent. Meridian provides integrated solutions for over 350 clients with 8.5
million active users including AutoZone, Bell Helicopter, CSX Corporation,
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., Panera Bread, Sunrise Senior Living, U.S.
Air Force, U.S. Navy, and more than 80 federal, state and local governments.
Meridian takes a unique approach to tailor every solution to exact client
needs. Meridian asks the right questions, listens and molds its solution to
fit its customers' unique requirements. Meridian offers SaaS, private cloud or
on-premises deployments.
Meridian's flagship product, the Meridian Global LMS, integrates advanced
learning management, mobile learning, social learning, e-commerce, learning
content management, performance management and workforce analytics into one
fully integrated solution. Meridian also provides strategic professional
services, mobile and e-learning courseware development and hosting services.
Meridian is a wholly owned subsidiary of Visionary Integration Professionals.
To learn more, visit www.meridianksi.com or follow Meridian on Twitter
@MeridianKS.
The Meridian Knowledge Solutions logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=17178
CONTACT: Media contact:
Bill Perry
bperry@meridianksi.com
Mobile: 614 975 7538
Meridian Knowledge Solutions, LLC logo